Vic Manuel was really looking forward to running it back with Phoenix Super LPG as he’s aching to redeem himself following an injury-riddled campaign in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.
The ‘Muscle Man’ got hurt in the worst of times, suffering a leg and then a groin injury late in the elimination round – at a time when the Fuel Masters were vying for a quarterfinal spot.
They went on to battle then-reigning champs Ginebra for the no. 8 spot, but could only do so much as the 34-year-old was one of their two big men who did not see action in the crucial tiff.
“‘Di ko nabigay ‘yung one hundred percent ko sa kanila.
“Tapos, ‘yung team namin, medyo hindi nagkaroon ng chemistry. So, hindi medyo maganda ‘yung tinakbo,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
What he aims to do, though, won’t happen anymore. On Friday, the league approved the trade that would send him and Michael Calisaan to NorthPort for Sean Anthony, Sean Manganti, and a future second-round draft pick.
“Akala ko mage-extend pa ‘ko para sana makabawi ako sa kanila. Kaso, wala na,” said the former Mr. Quality Minutes, who was traded by Alaska to Phoenix in the offseason. “Pero okay lang na nangyari. Ganun talaga.
“Part ng trabaho namin.”
Nevertheless, he’s grateful to the ball club despite that short of a stint. Now he looks forward to becoming a Batang Pier – again.
The native of Licab, Nueva Ecija will be returning to the very same team that picked him at ninth overall in the 2012 Rookie Draft, the same class bannered by reigning six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and his good pal Abueva.
Photo by PBA Images
“Siyempre masaya ako kasi ‘yun ‘yung first team ko sa PBA. Sila ‘yung nagbigay sa akin ng chance na maglaro sa PBA,” the former D-League MVP expressed.
“So, masaya ako na makakabalik ako sa team nila.”
But while he waits to reunite with familiar faces with NorthPort, Manuel has all his focus on recovering.
Photo by PBA Images
“Ito, nire-rehab ko pa rin. Recovering pa rin. Kailangan trabahuhin ko talaga ‘to kasi medyo mahirap ‘yung injury, kasi groin ‘to e,” he said.
“Pero okay naman na, nagi-improve na siya.”
